Means for supporting and feeding can ends or the like



Dec. 19, 1939. s w c 2,184,029

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND FEEDING CAN ENDS OR THE LIKE Filed March 16,1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 kiwi?" l f/W E/VTO/P 3 19, 1939. s, w u 2,184,029

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND FEEDING cm ENDS on THE LIKE Filed March 16,1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 firrOR/VEYS Dec. 19, 1939. s, wlCKLUND 2,184,029

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND FEEDING CAN ENDS OR THELIKE Filed March 16,1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 if 6: [AA/57V rah M WM WU r w 19, 1939. s, w u2,184,029

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND FEEDING CAN ENDS OR THE LIKE Filed March 16,1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FZZ'M 33 "fi FTTOFA EYG' the feeding unit forretaining and individually ifgllatenied eel i, 1711 MEANS FOR SUPPORTINGAND FEEDING CAN ENDS OR THE LIKE Sanford Wicklund, Whittier, cane,assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 16,

18 Claims.

The invention relates generally to means for supporting and individuallyfeeding can ends or similar disk or plate-like articles and-primarilyseeks to provide certain new and useful improvements in feeding devicesof the type disclosed in the United States Letters Patent issued toAlfred L. Kronquest, No. 1,610,862, on December 14, 1926.

In the patent referred to there is disclosed a can end feeding unitcomprising a retaining well for the can ends, a plurality of feed screwson which the can ends are supported in the well, and means including apinion attached to each screw, a rim gear common to allscrews, andintermediate gears one of which has rotation imparted thereto from apower source forvsuitably rotating the screws to cause them to feed thecan ends one by one from the bottom of the stack. The patented structureprovides no means enabling ready adjustment of the parts for retainingand individually feeding can ends of varied diameters. The presentinvention seeks to overcome this limitation of the patented structureand provide means readily adjustable to adapt feeding a wide range ofcan end sizes.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure of the charactermentioned in which the screws are adjustable aboutthe axes of theintermediate gears so that the positions of the screws can be alteredfor accommodatingcan ends of various sizes without'disrupting thedriving relation of the driving and driven gear elernents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of thecharacter mentioned in which can end retaining well forming columns orstandards are axially aligned with and movable simultaneously with thescrews during movements of adjustment thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of thecharacter mentioned in which is included a novel selective retainerplate effec:

tive to secure the feed screws in positions of adjustment, each suchplate being effective to secure a single adjusted relation of the screwsand also to provide a can end retaining well of a diameter correspondingto the particular adjust- 'ment.

With these and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, thenature of the invention will be more fully understood by following thedetailed description, the appended claims, and the several viewsillustrated in the accompanying drawings. I

1939, Serial No. 262,240

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view and partial horizontal section illustrating oneform of the invention, adjustments of the positions of certain of thecan end supporting and feeding screws being shown in dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan view and part horizontal section illustrating amodified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 4-Hon Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a fragment of the body ring.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 6-6 on Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a selective retaining ring.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross section taken on the line B8 on Figure 7.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail views respectively illustrating, one of thefeed screw mounting cranks in plan and vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 11 is a detail plan view of the feeder disk member optionallyaflixed to the delivery ends of the feed screw structures.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of thedrawings, there is included a base ring 5 having a center bore 6, acounterbore 1 forming a main chamber 8, and a counterbore 9 providing arecess and a suitable shoulder in for rotatably supporting a rim gearll.

Within the chamber 8, and meshing with the rim gear I l, is provided aplurality of intermediate gears lZ each fixed upon an individual shaftl3, one said shaft being extended, as indicated in Figure 2, to provideconnection with a suitable power applying source (not shown). Each shaftl3 has rotary hearing as at I5 in the base ring, and as at H5 in a headring I! removably secured as at IS on said base ring and including alarge central opening ill.

The head ring I! is undercut as at 20'to form a clearance in which aplurality of crank arms 2! are mounted. One such crank arm is providedfor each intermediate gear and each such crank arm is mounted on andswingable about the axis of one of the shafts l3. The crank arms 2| aremounted above the intermediate gears 12 and oppose similar crank arms 22similarly mounted on the shafts i3 beneath said intermediate gears. I

Each cooperating pair of crank members 2!, 22 carry axially alignedmounting bosses 23 at their free ends which form upper and lowerbearings for a rotatable shaft 24 which carries a driven gear 25 meshingwith the respective intermediate gear I2, and a spirally grooved can endsupporting and feeding screw element 26,

5 the peripheral portion of which projects from the periphery of thedriven gear as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The bearing boss extending upwardly from each upper crank 2| forms amounting for a column or standard 21, and it will be observed byreference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that these standardscollectively form a well for retaining a stack of can ends supported onthe feed screw elements 26.

Arcuate slotways 26 are provided in the head plate i1, and it will beobserved that these slots are concentric with the axes of the shafts l3.A clamp screw 29 passes through each slot 23 and is threaded into theunderlying crank arm 2i.

By use of these arcuate slot and clamp screw equipments 26, 29 adjustedpositions of the crank arms 2|, 22 may be suitably secured.

When it is desired to adjust the spaced relation of the supporting andfeeding screw elements 25 26 so as to adapt the structure for supportingand feeding can ends of varied diameters, it is only necessary to loosenthe screws 29 and swing the crank arms 2|, 22 about the axes of theshafts l3. When the crank arms are thus ad- 30 justed, the driven gears25 will roll around the periphery of the respective intermediate gearsi2 so that the adjustment of the spaced relation of the elements 26 canbe effected without disturbing the intermeshing relation of the rim gear5 ii, the intermediate gears l2, and the driven gears 25. The opening ISin the head plate l'l is suitably notched as at 30 to permit the partadjustment just described, and the base ring 5 includes a base ormounting flange 3| through the medium of which the feeding structure canbe mounted upon any suitable machine to be fed with can ends or likeelements thereby.

In Figures 3 through 10 of the drawings there is illustrated a modifiedform of the invention in which there is provided a base ring 32 which isperipherally recessed to provide a supporting shoulder 33 for arotatable rim gear 34. The base ring is provided with a plurality ofvertical shaft bores 35 formed in said ring and in bearing boss portions36 upstanding from said ring, each said boss being disposed in aclearance 31 formed in the upper portion of the ring. Each clearance 31forms a supporting shelf portion 33 surrounding the respective boss 36.The base ring is also formed with an arcuate clearance 39 concentricwith each bearing boss 36. Suitable feed screw accommodating undercutsor clearances 40 also are provided in association with "70 46 carries. acan end supporting and feeding screw 41 and a driven gear 48 whichmeshes with a respective intermediate gear 42 and includes a studportion 46 extending above the gear 46.

As in the form of the invention previously de- 15 scribed, it will beobvious that by swinging the intermediate gears 42, and the driven gears48.

crank members 44 about their mounting bosses 36, adjustments of thespaced relation of the shafts 46 can be made without disturbing. thelntermeshing relation of the rim gear 34, the

retaining can ends or similar elements supported by and fed from theunit. The retainer ring also includes feed screw clearing recesses 53,crank bearing portion receiving recesses 54, and suitably positionedapertures 55 for receiving the stud extensions 49 of the shafts 46. Itwill be understood that the apertures 55 are differently positioned ineach selective ring 50 so that each ring is adapted to secure a.particular ad 20 justment of the shafts 46.

Each of the can end supporting and feeding screws 41 secured at thelower ends of the respective shafts 46'projects inwardly beyond the wellwall 52 as indicated at 56. The diameters of the 25 respective wellwalls 52 vary as the diameters of the can ends to be fed vary, and ifdesired, suitable standards 51 can be supported upon the selective rings50 to form a vertical continuation of the can end retaining well formedby said 30 wall.

The equipment thus far described operates emciently at low speeds andwith smaller sizes of covers, but when the larger sizes of covers arebeing fed at high speed the covers dropped fronr 35 the supporting andfeeding threads may bounce out of position. At times also, covers mightbe improperly handled because of being slightly warped. Under suchconditions it will be found desirable to aflix to the bottom of eachfeed screw 40 member 41 a cover supporting and feeding disk 56 such asis shown in detail in Figure 11 of the drawings. Such disks, shownmounted in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, form two-lippedcontinuations of the feed screws and each presents a cover supportingflange 59 extending a considerable distance beyond the periphery of therespective feed screw 41, a lowering surface 66 forming a continuationof the feed screw groove, and a drop clearance 6i. These disks willprevent in- 50 advertent delivery of disks and assure delivery of' thedisks at the proper time. While it is desirable that these disks beemployed, it is to be understood that the feeding equipments can beoperated, if desired, without them. 55

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure andarrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. 60

I claim:

1. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a plurality ofspaced supporting and feeding screws, a shaft carrying each screw andhaving a driven gear thereon, a driving rim gear, an intermediate gearmeshing with each driven gear and the rim gear, and means mounting eachshaft and shiftable about the axis of the meshing intermediate gear foradjusting the spaced relation of the. shafts and the screws carriedthereon.

2. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a plurality ofspaced 7;

supporting and feeding screws, a shaft carrying each screw and having adriven gear thereon, a driving rim gear, an intermediate gear meshingwith each driven gear and the rim gear, and means mounting each shaftand shiftable about the axis of the meshing intermediate gear foradjusting the spaced relation of the shafts and the screws carriedthereon and means for securing the positions of adjustment of saidmounting means.

3. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a plurality ofspaced supporting and feeding screws, a shaft carrying each screw .andhaving a driven gear thereon, a driving rim gear, an intermediate gearmeshing with each driven gear and the rim gear, means mounting eachshaft and shiftable about the axis of the meshing intermediate gear foradjusting the spaced relation of the shafts and the screws carriedthereon, and a standard projecting axially above and movable with eachshaft, said standards collectively forming a well for said elements.

4. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a plurality ofspaced supporting and feeding screws, a shaft carrying each screw andhaving a driven gear thereon, a driving rim gear, an intermediate gearmeshing with each driven gear and the rim gear, and a crank memberequipment pivoted on the axis of each intermediate gear and havingprovision at its free end for supporting the shaft carrying the drivengear meshing with the particular intermediate gear and shiftable aboutits pivot for adjusting the spaced relation of the shafts and the screwscarried thereby.

5. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a plurality ofspaced supporting and feeding screws, a shaft carrying each screw andhaving a driven gear thereon, a driving rim gear, an intermediate gearmeshing with each driven gear and the rim gear, a crank member equipmentpivoted on the axis of each intermediate gear and having provision atits free end for supporting the shaft carrying the driven gear meshingwith the particular intermediate gear and shiftable about its pivot foradjusting the spaced relation of the shafts and the screws carriedthereby, and an arcuate slot and clamp screw means for securing adjustedpositions of each crank equipment.

6. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a plurality ofspaced supporting and feeding screws, a shaft carrying each screw andhaving a drivengear thereon, a driving rim gear, an intermediate gearmeshing with each driven gear and the rim gear, a crank member equipmentpivoted on the axis of each intermediate gear and having provision atits free end for supportingthe shaft carrying the driven gear meshingwith the particular intermediate gear and shiftable about its pivot foradjusting the spaced relation of the shafts and the screws carriedthereby, means for securing the positions of adjustment of said crankequipments, and stack retaining standards movable with said crankequipments.

7. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a base ring, a rimgear rotatably supported on the base ring, a plurality of spacedintermediate shaft members each carrying an intermediate gear meshingwith the rim gear, a crank equipment pivoted about each intermediateshaft and having its free end extended inwardly toward the axis of thebase ring, a driven shaft supported at the free end of each crankequipment and having a supporting and feeding screw thereon and a drivengear meshing with the respective intermediate gear, and means forsecuring the crank equipments in selected positions of adjustment aboutthe pivotal mountings of the crank equipments for adjusting the spacedrelations of the feeding screws.

8. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a base ring, a rimgear rotatably supported on the base ring, a plurality of spacedintermediate shaft members each carrying an intermediate gear meshingwith the rim gear, a crank equipment pivoted about eachintermediateshaft and having its free end extended inwardly toward theaxis of the base ring, a driven shaft supported at the free end of eachcrank equipment and having a supporting and feeding screw thereon and adriven gear meshing with the respective intermediate gear, a head plate,said intermediate shaft members having upper and lower rotary bearing insaid head plate and base ring, and means for securing the crankequipments in selected positions of adjustment about the pivotalmountings of the crank equipments for adjusting the spaced relations ofthe feeding screws.

9. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a base ring, a rimgear rotatably supported on the base ring, a plurality of spacedintermediate shaft members each carrying an intermediate gear meshingwith the rim gear, a crank equipment pivoted about each -intermediateshaft and having its free end extended inwardly toward the axis of thebase ring, a driven shaft supported at the free end of each .crankequipment and having a supporting and feeding screw thereon and a drivengear meshing with the respective intermediate gear, each said crankequipment having an upstanding boss at its free end, an element stacksupporting standard upstanding from each said boss, and means forsecuring the crank equipments in selected positions of adjustment aboutthe pivotal mountings of the crank equipments for adjusting the spacedrelations of the feeding screws.

10. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a base ring, a rimgear rotatably supported on the base ring, a plurality of spacedintermediate shaft members each carrying an intermediate gear meshingwith the rim gear, a crank equipment pivoted about each intermediateshaft and having its free end extended inwardly toward the axis of thebase ring, a driven shaft supported at the free end of each crankequipment and having a supporting and feeding screw thereon and a drivengear meshing with the respective intermediate gear, a head plate, andmeans engageable with the head plate for securing the crank equipmentsin selected positions of adjustment about the pivotal mountings of thecrank equipments for adjusting the spaced relations of the feedingscrews.

11. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a base ring, a rimgear rotatably supported on the base ring, a plurality of spacedintermediate shaft members each carrypositions of adjustment about thepivotal mountings of the crank equipments for adjusting the spacedrelations of the feeding screws. I

12. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a base ring, a rimgear rotatably supported on the base ring, a plurality of spacedintermediate shaft members each carrying an intermediate gear meshingwith the rim gear, a crank equipment pivoted about each intermediateshaft and having its free end extended inwardly toward the axis of thebase,

ring, a driven shaft supported at the free end of each crank equipmentand having a supporting and feeding screw thereon and a driven gearmeshing with the respective intermediate gear, a head plate having anarcuate slot therein overlying each crank equipment and concentric withthe crank equipment pivot, and a clamp crew carried by each crankequipment and engageable in the respective slot for securing the crankequipments .in selected positions of adjustment about the pivotalmountings of the crank equipments for adjusting the spaced relations ofthe feeding screws.

13. In a can end feeding device,- a rim gear, a plurality of drivengears spaced inwardly of the rim gear, rotary shafts carrying the drivengears, can end supporting and feedingelements mounted on said shafts, anintermediate gear interposed between each driven gear and the adjacentportion of the intermediate gear, and means mounting said shafts formovement about the axes 'of the intermediate gears for adjusting thespaced relations of said elements without disturbing the intermeshingrelation of the gears.

14. In a can end feeding device, a rim gear, a plurality of driven gearsspaced inwardly of the rim gear, rotary shafts carrying the drivengears,

' can end supporting and feeding elements mounted on said shafts, anintermediate gear interposed between each driven gear and the adjacentportion of the intermediate gear, means mounting said shafts formovement about the axes of the intermediate gears for adjusting thespaced relations of said elements without disturbing the intermeshingrelation of the gears, and selective adjustment securing plates havingapertures therein for receiving and fixing positions of adjustment ofsaid shafts.

15. In a can end feeding device, a rim gear, a plurality of driven gearsspaced inwardly of the rim gear, rotary shafts-carrying the drivengears, can end supporting and feeding elements mounted on said shafts,an intermediate gear interposed between each driven gear and theadjacent portion of the intermediate gear, means mounting said shaftsfor movement about the axes of the intermediate gears for adjusting thespaced relations of said elements without disturbing the intermeshingrelation of the gears, and selective adjustment securing plates havingapertures therein for receiving and fixing positions of adjustment ofsaid shaft, each said plate including a deep skirt forming a can endretaining well of selected diameter.

16. In a can end feeding device, a rim gear, a plurality of driven gearsspaced inwardly of the rim gear, rotary shafts carrying the drivengears,

can end supporting and feeding elements mounted on said shafts, anintermediate gearinterposed between each driven gear and the adjacentportion of the intermediate gear, a base ring rotatably supporting saidrim gear, shafts rotatably mounting said intermediate gears, said basering having bosses rotatably supporting the intermediate gear shafts andrecesses surrounding said bosses, a crank arm pivoted on each boss inone of the recesses and having a bearing at its free end for rotatablysupporting one of the driven gear shafts whereby said driven gears canbe moved about the axes or the intermediate gears without disturbing theintermeshing relation of the gears, and means for securing positions ofad- Justment of said crank arms.

17. Means for supporting a stack of can ends or like elements and forfeeding them individually from said stack comprising, a. plurality ofspaced supporting and feeding screws, a cover supporting and feedingdisk secured to the delivery end of each screw and including asupporting shelf extending peripherally beyond the screw, 2. coverlowering surface forming a continuation of the screw groove and a coverreleasing edge clearance, a shaft carrying each screw and having adriven gear thereon, a driving rim gear, an intermediate gear meshingwith each driven gear and the rim gear, and means mounting each shaftand shiftable about the axis of the meshing intermediate gear foradjusting the spaced relation of the shafts and the screws carriedthereon.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a cover supporting andfeeding screw, and a cover supporting and feeding disk secured to thedelivery end of said screw and including a supporting shelf extendingperipherally beyond the screw, 8. cover lowering surface forming acontinuation of the screw groove, and a cover releasing edge clearance.

SANFORD WICKLUND.

